Brora 22 yo 1972 / 1995 Rare Malts 61.1% vs Brora 22 yo 1972 / 1995 Rare Malts 58.7%
Brora 22 yo 1972 / 1995 Rare Malts 61.1%
Huge, as expected, maximum octane, outrageous even, but it’s a kind of peat that is not so much to do with the sea but rather about deep, dark, dank earth. Oozing with boggy mud, tar pits, liquified coal and ancient woody lignins in stages of decomposition, crude oil, plenty plenty of char and soot, black resin pastes, burnt lemon skins, touches of violet leaf and medicinal bark teas – the sort mixed with green cardamom and pulverised nutmeg flesh. Yet, notwithstanding the darkness here, it remains surprisingly clean and sharp in comparison with the farmy end of Brora, ie the 30 yo special releases. Despite the strength this is somehow tonally a degree lighter than 58.7% but it is difficult to describe why. Certain bitter medicinal green facets do start to appear at the finish and that really throws you off. Still, a blockbuster whisky that wants to be more sublime than monumental maybe? 94 pts
Brora 22 yo 1972 / 1995 Rare Malts 58.7%
Immensity, scandalous excess, supermaximal. One of the biggest whiskies you will ever taste. The earthiness and darkness of this Brora peat is certainly found here as well, perfectly paired with the a bladed salinity, but the concentration and power here seems to go a degree further than 61.1%. And whilst this is not the farmiest Brora, that famed aspect is certainly to be found here too. Again this remains concentrated and precise from start to end, with a potent minerality to match this weight, heavy as sin. I would go so far as to say the 58.7% enjoys a greater purity centred on utterly raging phenols and the insane olfactory vortex it creates in the glass. 95 pts
I have the 2004 Special Release on hand and I would say a clear line exists from 58.7% to 2004, and in fact the early Specials too for that matter, which are all of the very best of Brora. 95 pts
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